he flag represents a map of
the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine
islands

Economy

Economy--overview: Tuvalu consists of a densely populated,
scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has
no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and
fishing are the primary economic activities. Government revenues
largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker
remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate
mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as
phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received annually
from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia,
NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an
effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is
pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some
government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu
began selling internet addresses in its TV domain and reportedly has
derived revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines. Low-lying
Tuvalu is particularly vulnerable to any future global warming.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 million (1995 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 8.7% (1995)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1995 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (average 1985-93)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: people make a living mainly through
exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home
by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry
and sailors)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.3 million
expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989 est.)

Industries: fishing, tourism, copra

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1995)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1995)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1995)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1995)

Agriculture--products: coconuts; fish

Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)

Exp